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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Kelley Beekeeping Invests $7.5 Million To Expand Facility In Clarkson, Kentucky

09/28/2015
Kelley Beekeeping, which manufactures beekeeping products for the hobbyist, small business and commercial markets throughout the world, will invest nearly $7.5 million to expand its facility in Clarkson, Kentucky. The company plans to create 50 jobs in Grayson County.

The company purchased 20 acres of land for construction of a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing and showroom facility. The expansion will accommodate continued growth for the company, which has added jobs overall but also sees seasonal swells, most recently to 110 employees. The company expects to attract additional tourism to Kentucky. Currently, more than 300 people visit the operation each weekend during the spring.

“We are excited to announce our expansion and our continued commitment to our family of Kelley employees and the city of Clarkson,” said Dan Ferrise, CEO of Kelley Beekeeping. “We are very proud of our heritage and our positive relationship with the city of Clarkson, the state of Kentucky and beekeepers around the world.”

Ferrise said the company expects the expanded showroom facility to open in early June 2016, coinciding with the company’s annual Field Day event. That’s when more than 300 beekeepers from across the central U.S. visit to learn and share knowledge with other bee enthusiasts.

“I congratulate Kelley Beekeeping for doing business in this community for more than 60 years, and on its expansion plans,” said Governor Steve Beshear. “I want to thank Kelley Beekeeping for keeping its business in Kentucky through its great success and growth. Grayson County has seen more than $40 million in investment since 2008, and projects such as this will continue to move the region forward.”

“The people of Grayson County have embraced Kelley Beekeeping and its products as showcased by the Clarkson Honeyfest,” said Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen. “It is great to be in Grayson County to celebrate this expansion. I wish Kelley Beekeeping the best of success.”

Kelley Beekeeping was established in 1924 and is a manufacturer of more than 3,000 beekeeping products. Those products include a range of specialty supplies, such as woodenware units for keeping hives, protective clothing, honey extraction equipment and a variety of bees.

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $1 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets. In addition, Kelley Beekeeping also received $100,000 in incentives under the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act.

Kelley Beekeeping is also eligible to receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies are eligible to receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives.

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